Major League Baseball will reportedly stand pat with Fox Sports and Turner Sports for the remainder of the decade.
Sports Business Daily reported Wednesday that Major League Baseball will agree to separate eight-year television deals with Fox Sports and Turner Sports through the 2021 season.
Under the new deals, the FOX and TBS packages will remain virtually the same as in the current deal. However, there will be a few new wrinkles. FOX and TBS will split the Division Series, which TBS has broadcast exclusively dating back to 2007.
Some Division Series games, as well as some Saturday afternoon games, would air on ‘Fox Sports 1’ — the long-rumored 24-hour News Corporation sports channel (currently Speed Network).
Other than the Division Series split and the addition of Fox Sports 1, the new television contract will not be much of a departure from the present deal. FOX will continue to air Saturday afternoon games, portions of the League Championship Series, and the World Series. TBS will continue to air Sunday afternoon games, at least part of the Division Series, and part of the LCS.
(Wednesday’s news from Sports Business Daily)
